keeping one's options open
Preserving future flexibility
Keeping one's options open means deliberately avoiding commitment to a single course of action, preserving the ability to choose later.
The phrase suggests strategic delay rather than indecision: She's keeping her options open until she hears back from all the schools.
Sometimes it signals reluctance to commit in relationships: He says he wants to keep his options open, which probably means he's not that into you.
- playing the fieldDating without commitment
- insuranceContractual risk coverage
- exit strategiesPlanned means of departure
- escape hatchEmergency exit opening
- contingency planningPreparing for possible problems
networking · incrementalism · adaptability · wiggle room · compromise · diversification · back burner · hedging · irons in the fire · redundancy · diplomacy · noncommittal · negotiation tactics · safety nets · risk assessment · resilience · open-mindedness · social capital
keeping one's options opencommitting
Carrying out an act
burning one's bridges · locking in · going all in · taking the plunge · crossing the Rubicon
keeping one's options openrigidity
State of being unbending
single-mindedness · tunnel vision · narrow-mindedness · dogmatism · intransigence
keeping one's options opendeciding
Making a choice
biting the bullet · fish or cut bait · choosing · resolving · cutting to the chase
keeping, keeper, keepers, oneness, option, options, optional, optionally, optionality